Emma Raducanu Withdraws German Open Citing Back Injury Ahead Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the German Open due to persistent back issues that have affected her since May, raising concerns about her fitness ahead of Wimbledon. Despite managing the pain with treatment and painkillers, the 22-year-old British No.1 suffered a straight-sets loss to Qinwen Zheng in the Queen's Club quarter-final, where her back problems briefly required medical attention. Raducanu’s back spasms, first experienced earlier this year, have been a recurring vulnerability, prompting her to prioritize recovery and rest before Wimbledon while still planning to compete at Eastbourne. Although she is currently ranked 37th and unlikely to be seeded at Wimbledon, Raducanu is shifting her focus towards improving her competitiveness against top players rather than simply securing a favorable draw. The German Open will proceed without her, but the tournament remains competitive with top players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff participating. Observers also noted an unusual incident at Queen’s where Raducanu served during an opponent’s shoe change, a practice not typically allowed during matches.